2012 Vol 37(1): Bloody Censorship
SKU17074

Recent moves by Parliament to increase penalties for the use of 'obscene' language raise questions about the extent to which individuals have freedom of expression rights in Australia. I argue here that such laws might be challenged on the basis of the implied freedom of political communication developed by the Australian Courts. I look to the experience in other countries such as the United States where courts have upheld an individual's freedom of expression over attempts to regulate what a person can say, and the extent to which freedom of expression is protected in international instruments.